Buffs aim to prove ability

Boyle's squad trounced by Stanford twice last season

BOULDER -- It's not revenge on the minds of the veteran members of the Colorado basketball team when they face Stanford tonight. It's more redemption.

Stanford blew out the Buffs last season in both games the teams played and the members of this season's team who were a part of those ugly outings are out to prove something to themselves as much as the Cardinal -- that they're improved.

CU got a big assist in winning the Pac-12 tournament title last season when Cal beat Stanford. If that game had gone the other way, there is no reason to think CU would have beaten Stanford in the semifinals based on the two earlier games between the teams in the regular season. Stanford won those games by 24 and 20 points, respectively.

"They didn't just handle us, they destroyed us," CU sophomore Askia Booker said. "They put our heads in the dirt and kicked us in our head. They out-muscled us. They ran their plays. They were executing throughout the game and we didn't do that.

"We didn't get enough stops, nowhere near enough stops. We didn't get enough rebounds. They beat us in both of those margins of the game. I think this year we're here to prove that (today)."

The Buffs (12-6, 2-4) will try to improve to 8-1 at home this season and take a step toward getting back to .500 in conference play when they host the Cardinal at 8:05 p.m., at the Coors Events Center.CU coach Tad Boyle says his team just didn't matchup with the overall size on the Cardinal roster and the Buffs didn't defend the perimeter well in the two gameslast season.

Advertisement

Stanford guards Aaron Bright and Chasson Randle combined to average 31 points against the Buffs and they knocked down 12 3-pointers.

"Last year we just didn't matchup with them very well," Boyle said. "We didn't have the perimeter defenders that I think we have this year, but that is yet to be determined against (Randle)."

Boyle said freshmen such as center Josh Scott and wing Xavier Johnson should match up better in terms of size with Stanford, which has four forwards and one guard in its probable starting lineup. Boyle said he also believes a year of seasoning has better prepared players such as Spencer Dinwiddie, Andre Roberson and Sabatino Chen to play better defense on the perimeter.

Stanford has shortened its rotation to eight players recently, which could bode well for the Buffs if they can play at a fast tempo and use the altitude against the Cardinal. Stanford used 15 players in last season's win in Boulder, but at least some of that was because of the lopsided score. However, 10 players logged at least 10 minutes in that game for the Cardinal.

"I think defensively we can be better than we were last year," Boyle said. "I'm not sure we have the edge that we need to have yet or the pride from all five guys out there. I think we're getting there. I think (last) weekend was a step in the right direction when you look at the numbers we held Washington and Washington State to. What we're not doing is we're not finishing possessions."

Boyle said the Buffs are allowing too many second chance opportunities on defense.

CU also is in a shooting slump of late, particularly from behind the 3-point line. The Buffs have made just 13 3-pointers in the past five games combined. Last year against Stanford the Buffs made just 36 percent of their shots in the two games combined versus Stanford making 51 percent.

"I don't know what's causing it," Boyle said. "You go through stretches as a player, you go through stretches as a team where the ball is not going in the basket. The standard answer is we got to crank up our defense. If we're going to shoot 35 percent, we got to hold them to 34 percent. But the other thing is we can go inside and attack the basket, we can get to the free throw line and we can try to score in other ways."

MacIntyre feels Colorado is capable of making run at bowl gameCU BUFFS FALL CAMPWhen: 29 practices beginning Wednesday morning 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices are open to the media and public next week. Full Story

MacIntyre feels Colorado is capable of making run at bowl gameCU BUFFS FALL CAMPWhen: 29 practices beginning Wednesday morning 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices are open to the media and public next week. Full Story

It didn't take long for Denver music observers to notice Plume Varia. Husband and wife Shon and Cherie Cobbs formed the band only two years ago, but after about a year they started finding themselves on best-of lists and playing the scene's top venues. Full Story